The newly-expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup has boosted the number of African participants from five to nine automatic spots.
While Morocco and Tunisia have already secured their places at next year’s global showpiece, continental giants such as Cameroon, Nigeria and Senegal are still tasked with booking the automatic spots from their respective groups.
As qualification enters into its final round of matches this month, many of these nations will hope to avoid slip-ups that could cost them a place at the tournament.
Here are five times African giants have missed out on the FIFA World Cup in the past.
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Cameroon, 2006
After qualifying for four consecutive editions, Cameroon failed to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, after failing to finish top of their group. The Indomitable Lions had won two of three previous African Cup of Nations tournaments and were favourites to progress from a group that also included Ivory Coast, Egypt and Sudan.
They headed into their final game against Egypt needing a win to progress, but ultimately fell short as defender Pierre Wome slammed a stoppage-time penalty kick against the crossbar, denying them the win.
Nigeria, 2022
Nigeria missed the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after losing out in their playoff tie to bitter rivals Ghana. It marked a second time the three-time African champions had failed to qualify for the grand event since making its debut in 1994.
After a goalless first leg in Accra, the Super Eagles had home advantage heading into the second leg but were stunned by a goal from Thomas Partey.
Despite William Troost-Ekong’s equalizer, the ‘Jollof-derby’ ended 1-1 at full-time as Ghana qualified via the away goal rule.
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Egypt, 2010
The golden generation of Egypt, who had won two consecutive African Cup of Nations titles, failed to reach the 2010 FIFA World Cup after suffering elimination at the hands of Algeria.
Both sides finished with identical records in Group C of qualifying, finishing with the same number of wins, draws, defeats, goals scored, goals conceded and points.
The lone spot from the group had to be determined by a one-legged playoff, which was won by Algeria.
Egypt, 2022
Led by Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, Egypt failed to once again qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup after suffering defeat to Senegal in the playoff round.
The Pharaohs had suffered heartbreak to the same opponents in the 2021 AFCON finals and were defeated once again, losing out on penalty shootout after a 1-1 aggregate result in both legs.
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Cameroon, 2018
The Indomitable Lions appear for a second time on this list, having also missed the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Months after claiming a 2-1 win over Egypt in the 2017 AFCON final, they finished third in Group B behind Nigeria, who were docked three points by FIFA for fielding an ineligible player and Zambia, who finished in second place.
